Text of Senate Amendment 6505

On 2026-06-24, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6505" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 6505

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3617-S3618] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6505. Mrs. SHAHEEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle A of title XII, add the following: SEC. 1210. SECURITY ASSISTANCE. (a) Authorization of Appropriations for Security Assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces.-- (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Department of State, for each of the first 5 fiscal years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act-- (A) $200,000,000 for Foreign Military Financing; (B) $25,000,000 for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement; (C) $11,500,000 for Non-proliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining, and Related Programs; and (D) $3,500,000 International Military Education and Training. (2) Notice before provision of assistance.-- (A) Restriction.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), not more than 50 percent of the funds appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) may be obligated until after the Secretary of State certifies to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives that-- (i) the Government of Lebanon has declared Hezbollah's military activities illegal; and (ii) the Lebanese Armed Forces are implementing directives of the Government of Lebanon regarding-- (I) the establishment of a monopoly of force within Lebanon; and (II) the disarmament of Hezbollah. (B) Inapplicability.--The restriction on obligating funds under subparagraph (A) shall not apply to assistance provided to special operations units and associated enabling forces of the Lebanese Armed Forces. (3) Authorization of contingent funding after the first fiscal year.-- (A) Contingency.--Subparagraph (B) shall take effect if a briefing required under subsection (c) during the fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act demonstrates meaningful progress, as determined by the Secretary of State-- (i) by the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces to counter Iranian proxy forces operating in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad; and (ii) by the Government of Lebanon to develop and implement a plan to expand state services and increase legitimate political participation in Lebanese communities that are currently dependent on parallel services from Hezbollah. (B) Funding.--Subject to the contingency described in subparagraph (A), in addition to the appropriations authorized under paragraph (1), there is authorized to be appropriated to the Department of State, for the second, third, fourth, and fifth fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act-- (i) $50,000,000 for Foreign Military Financing; (ii) $6,000,000 for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement; (iii) $3,000,000 for Non-proliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining, and Related Programs; and (iv) $1,000,000 for International Military Education and Training. (4) Authorization of additional contingent funding after the second fiscal year.-- (A) Contingency.--Subparagraph (B) shall take effect if the briefings required under subsection (c) during each of the first 2 fiscal years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act demonstrate meaningful progress, as determined by the Secretary of State-- (i) by the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces to counter Iranian proxy forces operating in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad; and (ii) by the Government of Lebanon to implement a plan to expand state services and increase legitimate political participation in Lebanese communities that are currently dependent on parallel services from Hezbollah. (B) Funding.--Subject to the contingency described in subparagraph (A), in addition to the appropriations authorized under paragraphs (1) and (3), there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State, for each of the third, fourth, and fifth fiscal years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act-- (i) $50,000,000 for Foreign Military Financing; (ii) $6,000,000 for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement; (iii) $3,000,000 for Non-proliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining, and Related Programs; and (iv) $1,000,000 for International Military Education and Training. (5) Use of funds.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to authorizations under paragraphs (1)(B), (3)(B), and (4)(B) shall be used by the Secretary of State to build the capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces, including by-- (A) countering Iranian proxy forces operating in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad; (B) implementing-- (i) the August 2025 decision to exercise a state monopoly of arms; (ii) the September 2025 plan to achieve this monopoly by disarming Hezbollah; (iii) the March 2026 decision to ban Hezbollah security and military activities; and (iv) the April 2026 decision to bring weapons in Beirut under government control; (C) fully implementing all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions; (D) training and vetting members of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces; (E) countering and interdicting revenue sources for Hezbollah and other malign actors, including revenues derived from financial crimes, Captagon, and other illicit good production and trafficking in Lebanon; (F) detecting and interdicting trafficking of weapons, materials related to weapons of [[Page S3618]] mass destruction, dual-use goods, and sensitive technologies in Lebanon; and (G) implementing the program described in subsection (b). (b) Program to Build the Capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces With Respect to Captagon and Other Illicit Goods.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary of State shall establish a program to provide assistance to strengthen the capacity of Lebanese security institutions to identify, track, and improve their forensics detection capabilities with respect to financial crimes and production and trafficking of Captagon and other illicit goods that provide a source of revenue for Hezbollah and other malign actors. (2) Program requirements.--Recipients of assistance from the program required under paragraph (1)-- (A) shall be limited to Lebanese officials who have expertise and experience or are being trained in matters described in paragraph (1); and (B) may be carried out, in the case of inbound exchanges, as part of exchange programs and international visitor programs administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State, including the International Visitor Leadership Program, in coordination with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. (c) Briefing.--Not later than 15 days before the obligation of any funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary of State shall brief the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives regarding-- (1) the steps taken during the previous year by the Lebanese security institutions to counter Iranian proxy forces operating in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad; (2) the steps taken during the previous year by Lebanese security institutions to counter the production and trafficking of Captagon and other illicit goods in Lebanon; (3) how United States assistance created or augmented the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces to undertake the steps described in paragraphs (1) and (2); (4) how the production and trafficking of Captagon and other revenues sources, to include financial crimes and illicit good production and trafficking, has harmed the Lebanese economy and benefitted Hezbollah and other malign actors; (5) the steps taken by the Lebanese Armed Forces to counter any instances of collusion between the Lebanese Armed Forces and Hezbollah, such as-- (A) promoting the establishment of rapid inspection units; (B) conducting randomized spot checks; (C) implementing mechanisms for incentivizing weapons relinquishment; (D) implementing mechanisms for incentivizing outcome-based performance by Lebanese Armed Forces units and personnel; and (E) imposing consequences, such as criminal liability, for Lebanese Armed Forces personnel who have colluded with Hezbollah; and (6) how the assistance authorized under subsection (a) will further improve the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces to counter Iranian proxy forces operating in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. (d) Oversight of Support Assistance.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the following 3 years, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives an unclassified report, with a classified annex, if necessary, that-- (1) describes the progress made by the Government of Lebanon, the Lebanese Armed Forces, and the Internal Security Forces and any remaining gaps in developing and implementing a plan, with timelines and measurable objectives-- (A) to